Europe will seek a fourth successive win against the United States in Minnesota and speculation is already rife as to who will lead the defending champions with Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez another favourite.

“I’m going to be a little biased, Darren is a good friend of mine and from Northern Ireland so it would be great to see him get the captaincy but if it was to be Miguel then I’d have no problems with that either - they are going to have a tough decision,” McIlroy said ahead of this week’s Dubai Desert Classic.

On Tuesday, world No2 Henrik Stenson and sixth-ranked Sergio Garcia, both team stalwarts, said it would likely be a straight fight between Clarke and Jimenez over who will replace 2014 skipper Paul McGinley.

“I always thought Darren would be a perfect fit for captaincy in the States,” said McIlroy. “People love him over there and he’ll do well but people love Miguel anywhere he goes and the more he plays on the Champions Tour he’s going to become more popular as well.

“They are both quality candidates and great players. As long as I’m on the team and they decide to play me I’m happy enough.”

Spain’s Jimenez, 51, is ranked 42 and played 25 events on the European Tour last year. Clarke, 46, is a less regular figure on the circuit.

McIlroy said he expected to be consulted by the five-man panel that will choose the captain, a decision that used to be made by the players. The committee includes former skippers McGinley, Jose Maria Olazabal and Colin Montgomerie.

World No1 McIlroy will play in today’s Classic, having finished second at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship two weeks ago, a stroke ahead of Martin Kaymer who blamed over-confidence after he blew a 10-stroke final round lead.

McIlroy has suffered in similar circumstances, squandering a four-shot final day lead at the 2011 US Masters.

“It was the most important day of my career, bar none, because if I had not had that happen to me who knows where I would have been,” admitted the four-time Major winner.

“You learn way more from those days than from victories.”

McIlroy is among six Irish competing this week in Dubai, including Dubliner Peter Lawrie who is teeing up on an invitation and thanks to the four-time Major winner.

McIlroy stepped forward to speak with event organisers who handed Lawrie one of eight invitations into the relatively small 99-player field.

And not only did McIlroy get Lawrie a start in Dubai but he’s also sorted out a room for the struggling former Spanish Open champ.